Still here

I am still here! I'm sorry for the lack of updates but a health scare meant I had to cancel a holiday and i haven't felt like doing much. I think it will all be ok thankfully.

The Gadwall have gone alas but the 2 Grebe chicks are doing well. 

I happened to walk past the Netteswell pond the other day and got a surprise to find 3 teenage mallards! 

On Wednesday I twice had excellent views of a Kingfisher on a local pond! 

I am intending to visit somewhere next week! 

COVID strikes but I'm still here!

Yes I am still here. 

On the Sunday I started the hire car up to find the tyre pressure warning light was on so I didn't do much. I would normally have posted last week but I tested positive for COVID. After 2 years of being careful this is a bummer. The timing would suggest I got it on the way back (The Airline removed the mandatory face masks mid holiday). 

Apparently you don't have to isolate any more or test negative. Just wait 5 days. I have isolated  and I will not meet friends until I have tested negative but I did go for a walk today. 

How has it been? Well I had a very slight temperature one evening, a bit of a sore throat (both long gone) and a bunged up nose and a cough (the later two are getting better). Essentially it feels like a head cold and if it behaves like my normal colds I'll be coughing for weeks! 

As I said I went for my first walk today. I was advised by friends NOT TO OVER DO IT. I did 4.5 miles and feel fine

The first few pics were taken before COVID struck 

Today I just stuck my compact in my pocket in case I needed reach. 

There are 7 Moorhen chicks on the local pond.

We have 4 foals on the  common :)

This Painted Lady was flying along the same path by the M11 I saw so many last year! 

It was nice to be out. I just need to test negative now! Next test tomorrow.

this and that

I was tempted to say that Tuesday was the first day of the rest of my life as dad's estate is finally wrapped up but hey. Saying goodbye to Dad's house was emotional as it had been home for 50 years even if I haven't lived there for 34 years. 

I am not sure what Dad would have said. Probably something like get the money safe ;) Anyhow it will be odd no going over and it is feels odd that his post code is one of the recommendations that the google driving app gives. Then again I haven't removed his phone number and I stopped that line over a year ago!

In reading I am on a reread period reading old favourites. I'm currently on Anne McCaffrey dragon books. Comfort reading ! 

I went to Amwell today alas nothing in Camera range. Highlights ? a few Common Sandpiper and a Sparrowhawk. Apparently the Little Ring Plover chick has fledged first there in 10 years I believe which is excellent news.

I hear we about to get Storm Ellen.... great! 

Thoughts

It has been about 11 weeks since Dad passed away at first it felt odd being in his house without him whereas now I'm kind of used to it. I'm there as I type this.

It is odd when I think of him. For instance tonight I was cutting his grass I noticed that after years of being empty "Jonathan's house" had people in it and I wanted to tell him ... Jonathan is a childhood friend who moved away 45 years ago... Lololol

Other times I realise he's gone is when I'd normally ring him and remember I don't have to worry I have no mobile signal... It's not the big chats I miss, we weren't big chatters anyway, but the little things.

I miss my Sunday lunch 😉 and Christmas will be odd as I'll be on my own. M&S and Waitrose here I come.

When cutting the grass I can hear him in hospital telling me I need to keep the garden tidy in case I had to sell the house.

Whilst hunting for a scrap of paper I found this... I've never knowingly seen it.

When he died his marigolds were in seed trays under old plastic, when I got around to uncovering them they had all died or so I thought.... Found tonight.

That made me smile...

Evening All

I apologise for the lack of blog activity.... nothing sinister...

Still waiting probate should be 6 weeks ish....

Both gardens are "tidy". Not only is the grass done I have cut a hedge! Ok not as straight as Sir but it is tidy! The main hedge will need doing however when cutting the grass I observed Robins going in and out and they have a nest so that will be put on hold.

My friends Jan and Tony are up and stayed over last night, food was eaten (thanks Jan) and wine drunk. Today I took them to Baythorne Hall when the wine was replenished and 1 or 2 or .... bottles is heading to Cornwall..... due to the heat (it was 32 !!) no photos were taken hopefully tomorrow.

Busy doing nothing

Things seem to be going OK with the Dad stuff.... I am waiting for probate so things are now on hold.

It would have been Dad's  90th last week and I have fathers day coming soon nice to get these anniversaries out of the way .... his birthday wasn't hard, what I find odd are the small things, not phoning him to say I'm on my way home... that sort of thing.

I awoke this morning and it was raining.... I went for a wander around Saffron Walden and then drove out to Lavenham ... the duck got tweeted about a scone of the month so it would be rude not to go.

I could have taken some photos but I have done Lavenham a few times recently.... don't worry tomorrow I go to somewhere I haven't been in 4.5 years and next weekend will be a total change.

Of course the sun is out now!

Have a picture of a Blueberry Scone at Lavenhan Guildhall with a happy duck.

Holkham mostly

My friends Stuart and Rebecca were kind enough to accompany me to scatter Dad's ashes at the same place he and I had scattered Mum's. I will admit to being a little bit emotional when I picked him up this morning but when the time came I just did it. They are together at somewhere they had many happy memories and that is how it should be.

With that done we went for a breakfast in Cley at a place called Artemis Coffee shop I had Two Poached eggs on Sourdough Toast with Salmon and a Latte. Very nice it was.

So on to Holkham Hall which was also appropriate as I have many happy memories of holidays in North Norfolk with Mum and Dad. Curiously Rebecca and Stuart have never been.

One of the things I like about Holkham is the wildlife, there were lots of broods of various geese and ducks. The Barnacle Geese population has exploded I can remember seeing two there some years back now they are all over the place. Bizarrely we never saw a Canada goose!

The walled garden is being restored... and it really is coming on well! 

Still work to do!

On my last visit I saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth and today? :)

When I was a lad you get into the area around the fountain.... now you take a picture through the balustrade :)

OOH nice area to bring up the youngster!

Into the house, the interior belies the exterior.

And there was cricket in front of the house... how English!!